Device for treating substances consisting of at least one vessel and one or more stirring members in each vessel

ABSTRACT

A device for treating e.g. mixing of different substances comprising a vessel with a vertical axis of symmetry, at least one stirring member provided in said vessel, means provided to support the upper end of the or each stirring member, whereas drive means are provided for rotating the or each stirring member about its own axis and simultaneously about the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel, a combined system consisting of an injection pipe and at least one pair of stirring members provided in a portion of the bottom of the vessel beyond the reach of the or each stirring member.

[ 51 Aug. 12, 1975 2,668,764 2/1954 Nauta 259/40 2,967,695 l/l96l 259/21 10/1971 259/40 DEVICE FOR TREATING SUBSTANCES CONSISTING OF AT LEAST ONE VESSEL 3,614,070 boomans AND ONE OR MORE STIRRING MEMBERS IN EACH VESSEL [75] Inventor: Constant Johan Nauta, Overveen, Pnmary Exammer Robrt Jenkms Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Waters, Schwartz & Nissen Zug,

[73] Assignee:

[22] Ffled: 1974 A device for treating e.g. mixing of different sub- Appl. No.: 478,166 stances comprising a vessel with a vertical axis of symmetry, at least one stirring member provided in said means provided to support the upper end of the or each stirring member, whereas drive means are vessel [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Netherlands,..........,.,......... 7308397 June 1973 provided for rotating the or each stirring member about its own axis and simultaneously about the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel, 21 combined system consisting of an injection pipe and at least one pair of stirring members provided in a portion of the bottom of the vessel beyond the reach of the or each stirring 40 3 20 2 //S 970 u A l 3 2 107E 2 W 5 28 2 4H 6 u 9 56 ""2 HU.6 mnnu 5 m m mmh ur. "8 "w .2

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[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 2,345,063 3/1944 Nauta 259/40 PATENTEU AUG] 2 i975 SHEET DEVICE FOR TREATING SUBSTANCES CONSISTING OF AT LEAST ONE VESSEL AND ONE OR MORE STIRRING MEMBERS IN EACH VESSEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to a device for treating substances, e.g. mixing granular, pulverulent or pasty substances and/or liquids, comprising a vessel with a vertical axis of symmetry, at least one stirring member provided in said vessel, each member at its upper respectively bottom end situated eccentrically in the vessel, whereas at least its upper end is supported in the free end of a member having its opposite end rotatably supported in the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel, while means are provided for rotating each stirring member about its own axis and simultaneously about the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel, at least one combined system for locally producing a vortex motion in the surrounding substances to be treated and injecting at the same time a substance into said surrounding substances, arranged in that portion of the bottom of the vessel beyond the reach of the or each stirring member.

This device is known from the published Netherlands patent application No. 7000259 on the name of applicant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention aims to provide a device of this kind enabling in a considerably shorter mixing time an extremely intense mixing of the substances to be treated together with the injected substance. Therefor the de vice according to the invention has a combined system consisting of an injection pipe rotatably supported in the bottom of the vessel and provided with at least one longitudinal channel closed at its upper end, at least one spray member opening into the vessel and at least one pair of stirring members provided on said injection pipe. Preferably said spray-respectively stirring members are arranged one below the other seen from the side of the closed upper end of the injection pipe as follows: a pair of stirring members, a spray member, a second pair of stirring members and a second spray member etc. The stirring members as well as the spray members are preferably adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the injection pipe in that case means provided for securing the members in any fixed position on the injection pipe.

Another object of the invention is that such stirring member consists of an elongated member provided with a bent free end. Preferably each pair of stirring members is arranged on a head supported suchlike in the wall of the injection pipe that it can be rotated as well as fixed against rotation, consequently the bent free end of each stirring member being adjustable over 360 in respect of the horizontal plane.

Preferably the openings of the upper spray members are directed perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the injection pipe, the openings of the lower spray member directed upwards in respect of said longitudinal direction of the injection pipe.

My invention finally aims to provide in or in the vicinity of the bottom of the vessel means enabling the fluidisation of the substances in the vessel by means of a gas, f.i. air at the time said substances move in the room in the lower portion of the vessel, said means preferably consisting of an air seal having a downwardly directed outlet slit said seal arranged between the cone-shaped bottom of the vessel respectively the bottom side of the combined system.

SURVEY OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an axial section through the lower portion of the vessel with a combined system arranged in the bottom of the vessel, the stirring members only represented in outline;

FIG. 2 represents diagrammatically a plan view of the combined system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

In the vesssel 1 only partially represented are arranged two diametrical stirring members 2 and 2a. Each stirring member 2, respectively 20 is supported at the upper end of its shaft 3, respectively 3a in the free end of a supporting arm (not shown) extending from the central vertical axis of the vessel radially and horizontally towards the wall 4 of the vessel 1 in a manner already known per se for a device of the kind described. The inside end of each supporting arm is supported in a member rotatably supported in the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel 1. The lower end of each stirring member 2 respectively 2a is situated eccentrically in respect of the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel 1 free from the bottom 5 of the vessel 1. By means of driving and transmission means (not shown) the stirring members 2 and 2a can be rotated about the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel 1, each stirring member rotated simultaneously about its own axis.

In the central portion of the bottom 5 beyond the reach of the stirring members 2 and 2a a combined system 6 is arranged in the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel 1. The combined system 6 comprises an injection pipe 7 closed at its upper end and by means of twin roller bearings 8 supported rotatably in a central bore 9 extending centrically through the bottom 5 of the vessel 1. On either side of each twin roller bearing 8 is arranged a labyrinth packing 10. On the part of the injection pipe 7 extending upwardly from the bottom 5 and seen from the upper end of said part are arranged a head 11 with stirring members 12, a spray member 13, a head 14 with stirring members 15 and a spray member 16. The lower end of the spray member 16 engages circumferentially by means of a bore provided in said member the top end of the bottom 5. Since all stirring members and spray members are each adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the injection pipe 7, means (not shown) are provided to fix said members in any position, it is possible to provide an annular passage 18 between the wall 17 of the spray member 16 respectively, the top end of the bottom 5 as well as between the bottom of the spray member 16 and the upper side of the bottom 5, a channel 19 extending through the bottom 5 connected to said passage 18.

Circumferentially equidistantly spaced three pairs of stirring members 12 and three pairs of stirring members 15 are arranged on the injection pipe 7, the stirring members of each pair arranged one above the other, the drawing showing only one pair of stirring members 12 and one pair of stirring members 15. The stirring members 12 or 15 belonging to one single pair of stirring members are at one end fixedly secured in a head 20 or 21, respectively, each head rotatably supported in the wall of the associated holder 11 or 14, respectively, means (not shown) provided to secure the holder in any position on the injection pipe 7. The free ends of the stirring members 12 and 15, respectively, are bent.

The spray member 13 is by means of channels in the wall of the injection pipe 7 in open communication with the channel 22 provided in the injection pipe 7, said member 13 showing openings to the outside perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the injection pipe. The spray member 16 is likewise by means of channels provided in the wall of the injection pipe 7 in open communication with the channel 22, however, the circular outlet slit 23 of the spray member 16 is directed obliquely upwards in respect of the longitudinal direction of the injection pipe 7.

A rope pulley 24 is arranged on one end of the injection pipe 7 protruding from the underside of the bottom 5, while a bracket 25 secured to the bottom supports an electric motor 26 enabling to rotate via-a rope 27 respectively the rope pulley 24 the injection pipe 7 together with all stirring members and spray members arranged thereon. Into the open bottom end of the injection pipe 7 is arranged a liquid head 28 having its outlet extending into the injection pipe 7, while a supply pipe (not shown) for a liquid can be connected to the stationary casing of said liquid head 28.

The effect of the device is as follows: In operation preferably each of the stirring members 2 and 2a are rotated about its own axis in a direction forcing a flow of the substances to be treated from the bottom upwards in the vessel 1, thereafter falling down from the top side of the vessel to the bottom side. Since simultaneously the stirring members 2 and 2a rotate about the vertical axis of symmetry of the vessel 1 (see the arrows in FIG. 2) the whole mass of the substances to be treated is set into a move inside the vessel. A feed pipe preferably for compressed air is connected to the channel 19 extending through the bottom 5, providing an air seal preventing dust from penetrating into the member 6, moreover fluidising at'the same time the substances filling the bottom portion inside the vessel.

In fluidised substances the combined system 6 is rotated about its own axis at a comparatively high speed preferably in a direction opposite the rotating direction of the stirring members 2 and about their own axis (see arrows in FIG. 2), so that the stirring members 12 and 15 assist to a great extent in producing a vortex motion in the substances. By adjusting the stirring members 12 and 15 in respect of the direction of the bent free ends of said members in relationship with the nature of the substances to be treated it becomes possible to obtain optimal ratios for mixing the injected liquid together with the particles of the solid substances to be treated in which at the same time a vortex is produced, enabling also an excellent coating effect and casquo a granulation of the substances.

Constructive details of the device may be varied within the scope of the invention. For instance two separate channels can be provided in the injector pipe each of said channels in open communication with a corresponding sprayer and provided with a liquid head, consequently enabling two separate liquids to be injectcd. Also provisions can be arranged to spray solid or gaseoius substances into thejvessel- What I claim is: i

1. Device for treating substances e g. mixing granular, pulverulent or pasty substances and/or liquids, comprising a vessel with a vertical axis of symmetry, at least one stirring member in said vessel, said member being situated at its upper and bottom end eccentrically in said vessel, at least said upper end being supported in the free end of a member with opposite end rotatably supported in the vertical axis of symmetry of said vessel, means for rotating each stirring member about its own axis and simultaneously about the vertical axis of symmetry of said vessel, at least one combined system for locally producing a vortex motion in the surrounding substances to be treated and injecting at the same time a substance into said surrounding substances, ar-

ranged in that portion of the bottom of the vessel beyond the reach of said stirring member, said combined system comprising an injection pipe rotatably supported in the bottom of the vessel and provided with at least one longitudinal channel closed at its upperend, at least one spray memberopening into said vessel, and

v at least one pair of stirring 'members provided on said injection pipe.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein seen from the closed upper end of the injection pipe downwards one below the other are arranged a pair of stirring members, a spray member, a second pair of stirring members and a second spray member.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the openings of the upper spraymember are directed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the in jection pipe, the openings oi 'the low'er spray member being directed upwardly 'with respect to said longitudinal direction of the injection pipe. 7

4. Device according to claim 2, includingfor each ,spray member a separate feed channel in the injection 5. Device accordingto-claim 1 wherein said stirring member and said spray'member are adjustable in longitudinal direction of the injection pipe means provided for securing the members in any fixed position on the injection pipe.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said stirring member comprises anelongated member .provided with a bent free end. t i v 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein a pair of stirring members are arranged on a head supported in the wall of the injection pipe so that it can be rotated as well as fixed against rotation, the bent free end of each stirring member being adjustable over 360. with respect to the horizontal plane.

8. Device according to claim 1 includingmeans substantially in-the vicinity of the bottom of the vessel for fluidisation of the substances in the vessel by'means of a gas, said substances moving in the room in the lower portion of said vessel.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein said means in the bottom of the vessel comprises an air seal having a downwardly directed outletslit, said seal being arranged between the bottom of the vessel and the bottom side of the combined system the bottom of the vessel being cone-shaped. 

1. Device for treating substances e.g. mixing granular, pulverulent or pasty substances and/or liquids, comprising a vessel with a vertical axis of symmetry, at least one stirring member in said vessel, said member being situated at its upper and bottom end eccentrically in said vessel, at least said upper end being supported in the free end of a member with opposite end rotatably supported in the vertical axis of symmetry of said vessel, means for rotating each stirring member about its own axis and simultaneously about the vertical axis of symmetry of said vessel, at least one combined system for locally producing a vortex motion in the surrounding substances to be treated and injecting at the same time a substance into said surrounding substances, arranged in that portion of the bottom of the vessel beyond the reach of said stirring member, said combined system comprising an injeCtion pipe rotatably supported in the bottom of the vessel and provided with at least one longitudinal channel closed at its upper end, at least one spray member opening into said vessel, and at least one pair of stirring members provided on said injection pipe.
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein seen from the closed upper end of the injection pipe downwards one below the other are arranged a pair of stirring members, a spray member, a second pair of stirring members and a second spray member.
 3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the openings of the upper spray member are directed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the injection pipe, the openings of the lower spray member being directed upwardly with respect to said longitudinal direction of the injection pipe.
 4. Device according to claim 2, including for each spray member a separate feed channel in the injection pipe.
 5. Device according to claim 1 wherein said stirring member and said spray member are adjustable in longitudinal direction of the injection pipe means provided for securing the members in any fixed position on the injection pipe.
 6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said stirring member comprises an elongated member provided with a bent free end.
 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein a pair of stirring members are arranged on a head supported in the wall of the injection pipe so that it can be rotated as well as fixed against rotation, the bent free end of each stirring member being adjustable over 360* with respect to the horizontal plane.
 8. Device according to claim 1 including means substantially in the vicinity of the bottom of the vessel for fluidisation of the substances in the vessel by means of a gas, said substances moving in the room in the lower portion of said vessel.
 9. Device according to claim 8, wherein said means in the bottom of the vessel comprises an air seal having a downwardly directed outlet slit, said seal being arranged between the bottom of the vessel and the bottom side of the combined system the bottom of the vessel being cone-shaped. 